Lolo bears

[Duckslayer89]

I missed a stud last night in 10 and killed one last year. Competing with people baiting but I still have good success seeing them

[SCRUBS]

I missed a stud last night in 10 and killed one last year. Competing with people baiting but I still have good success seeing them

Well that sucks.

Are you calling, baiting or spot & stalking?

[boneaddict]

No shortage of bears in Kelly Creek.  I see multiple of them every time I fish there.  Not sure if thats in your unit

[Machias]

What time of year was that machias?

End of May

[huntnnw]

I missed a stud last night in 10 and killed one last year. Competing with people baiting but I still have good success seeing them

any snow in 10?

[Duckslayer89]

I missed a stud last night in 10 and killed one last year. Competing with people baiting but I still have good success seeing them

any snow in 10?

A little up high. Probably more now though. I was just spot and shooting like I usually do there

[huntnnw]

After trudging 36 mi on foot in that country if they call that a high bear density area then my spots must be a petting zoo in WA  Hell I can hike around 20 min from Spokane and find sign. We saw 1 pile of bear crap in all those miles and it was spring. Fresh snow at 4,800’ and not 1 bear track. Either these bears migrate to lowest elevation or went to sleep.

[idaho guy]

I don’t doubt your story but that’s  strange there’s usually a lot of bears in 10 obviously not where you were though.

[KFhunter]

I found some big changes in Washington and I wonder if its the same in Idaho?

I had a lot of bear hunting areas that have historically had a ton of bears for many years. 
Some of those areas have almost completely dried up, no sign, no poo, no tracks for miles and miles and miles. 

Strange, I'm not sure what to attribute it too     The deer have went downhill too big time in these areas, tribes have declared it a "dead zone".


I'm not sure just how reliant the bear are of the fawns, if they needed them in the spring or can do without? or just prefer not to do without and move?
or perhaps wolves are ripping the bears out of dens, or just harassing them enough they move.   

Not sure yet, it could also be weather related although I'm less inclined to think so, the areas are loaded with berries which would spread the bears out good, but the amount of miles covered you would see poo/tracks and evidence still even if spread out. 

Just curious what you all think or if you've seen the same things.

[idaho guy]

I found some big changes in Washington and I wonder if its the same in Idaho?

I had a lot of bear hunting areas that have historically had a ton of bears for many years. 
Some of those areas have almost completely dried up, no sign, no poo, no tracks for miles and miles and miles. 

Strange, I'm not sure what to attribute it too     The deer have went downhill too big time in these areas, tribes have declared it a "dead zone".


I'm not sure just how reliant the bear are of the fawns, if they needed them in the spring or can do without? or just prefer not to do without and move?
or perhaps wolves are ripping the bears out of dens, or just harassing them enough they move.   

Not sure yet, it could also be weather related although I'm less inclined to think so, the areas are loaded with berries which would spread the bears out good, but the amount of miles covered you would see poo/tracks and evidence still even if spread out. 

Just curious what you all think or if you've seen the same things.

 

I don’t know if the fawns are a factor. My experience is it is the presence of wolves. I have noticed it in a big way with the lions coming close to town etc. I think the wolves harass everything to the point they would rather deal with people than 24/7 wolves. I think the lions are just following the deer and elk bears might be doing the same but I doubt it in the fall. I don’t think they are very good hunters other than killing fawns and calves in the spring. Tough to say in Idaho because of 2 bears and extended seasons I have noticed less bears everywhere and a lot less big ones. Age structure of Idaho bears has changed a lot from what I have seen. My hound buddies have found numerous bears dragged out of dens by wolves during cat season I never have though. Maybe they are just getting away from wolves like the deer and elk seems like bears are mostly driven around by their stomach so could be food sources too

[Naches Sportsman]

Was up on the boarder of 10 for a bit Sunday morning and ran into three different bear tracks in about a foot of snow. Going to check the cams in a couple weeks up in 12 and will post what I had as far as bears go.